User Reviews of Ambien » Ambien Withdrawal

Ambien works for me despite mild side effects

Anonymous Visitor — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:37:29 +0000

Hey just wanted to say 2 things.

1. Getting off ambien is easy,little to no withdrawls. But since you are an insomniac like I. I suggest melatonin. IT really works!

2. I LOVE my ambien. I take 10 mgs on a normal night but sometimes another or half helps a lot. I love it compared to all the stuff i used to try. Motrin pm and sleepy robo. with ambien i am able to sleep almost normal(before 4am) To make things worst i have Tourettes syndrome/adhd/ocd/sucks. So i keep my wife up all night with my sounds, so in closing. I love ambien, but not the side effects. But they are so small fry compared to the morbid hell of barking and making loud involuntary sounds. Now i can sleep. But good luck to you . i wish you well and no pain. try the melatonin.

Ambien Withdrawl: Cold Turkey

Anonymous Visitor — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:08:45 +0000

I feel it is very important that I share my experience with Ambien and my withdrawl experience. I had never been addicted to anything in my life, not even nicotine when I smoked for eleven years. However, I started taking Ambien over eight years ago, because I’m somewhat a chronic insomniac. Over the eight years, I went from a very non-threatening 2.5 mg per night to requiring over 20 mg per night minimum. Although, I didn’t sleep-eat or sleep-drive, as some people have described, I did make purchases, although intended in the future, without knowing until I got email confirmations. Ambien did cause short term amnesia type symptoms. Sometimes, if I didn’t get to sleep within an hour or two, I might even double it. I did what most addicts do to maintain their supply, doctor shop, on-line pharmacies (dangerous), etc. I ran out of authentic Ambien about two months ago and only had what I purchased on-line (very expensive) that wasn’t real (didn’t work), so I decided that was it, I was going to quit and just not sleep for however long it took, thinking it would only take a few days. However, the rebound insomnia lasted over a month . . . yes, I said a month. Strange things happen to your body when you don’t sleep for that long a period of time, paranoia, hallucenations (sp?), physical maladies, and even seizures (ended up in the hospital twice). To finally resolve this insomia, because there was no end in sight, I was prescribed a small amount of diazapam, followed by lorazapam to help me sleep and bring me more slowly off of the prescriptions. It worked. I am now at the point of using 1/2 diazapam to get to sleep and if I wake in the middle of the night, I lay in bed quietly and wait for sleep without taking anything else. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But I’m sticking to the plan. I have also contracted a pretty nasty cold and have been taking over the counter cold medication for my symptoms. While I was using Ambien, I never felt the drowsiness effect of the medications, now I do. I’m not using this as a substitution, but more as a test of how my body should react naturally to these medications while I’m controlling my cold symptoms. There are also some very good natural sleep aids available that I feel comfortable using regularly that I take when I need to sleep, have time to wait and time to sleep a full eight hours, as these natural sleep aids tend to stay in the body longer than Ambien did. Please, please, please take me serious because I don’t want anyone else to have to experience what I did. If you have already taken Ambien, be VERY careful how you use it, it is VERY easy to become dependent on. If you’ve already found yourself in a similar situation, talk to your doctor to discuss your options. Whatever you do, DON’T cold turkey this medication. I don’t care what the industry tell you, it IS dangerous to quit cold turkey. If your doctor won’t listen to you, find another doctor until you find one that will. Feel free to print this and share my story because it is very important to know what you’re dealing with. I’ve dealt with it the hard way. It is the most physically challenging thing I have ever gone through. It is really nice to be on the other side of that experience, knowing that I can sleep without Ambien and that I am actually sleeping more healthy.

Ambien withdrawl

Anonymous Visitor — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:00:23 +0000

Please hear me when I say this is a medication that controls and kills. The pain that my grandmother was experiencing was withdrawl pain. I realize that now. Not only does this medication cause the pain it aids in suicide. Its a deadly cycle. I am hearing now that my grandmother was aware she was addicted but didnt want to get help because she was worried someone would take away her medicine. Hearing the stories in this forum and being aware of this problem find the strength to get help. This will end badly for you as it has for so many others. For your children, for your family, for your friends, find the strength within yourself to help yourself and those around you. Also know that the pain you will give your family is eternal, if for nothing else, think about your daughter, this will scar her for life. Please stay strong and get help. Also if you need any sort of support, you can always find us here.

Ambien Side Effects

Anonymous Visitor — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:25:56 +0000

I’m really glad I found this website; I can really empathize with all of you. I’ve been taking Ambien for seven years now. I’ve had insomnia for as long as I can remember, but was first prescribed it in 2003. I’ve pretty much been on every drug under the sun for insomnia and/or anxiety – but nothing (except for maybe Ativan), nothing works/worked as well and as life-ruining as Ambien. At first I took it as prescribed, just 10mg and everything was perfect – though terribly suicidal and having an eating disorder (I weighed 86lbs) – the Ambien, I believe, actually kept me from killing myself though agonizing because I gained a lot of weight from night-eating. I’d wake up horrified the next morning to find empty food containers and food scattered on the floor. I’ve driven around – even managed to dent my car (thank goodness I never hurt anyone) – I’ve locked myself out my place numerous times – I’ve called/emailed/texted anyone and everyone rambling nonsense and declaring things I’d later regret. Soon I was drinking vodka and taking Ambien. I did anything to get it – ashamedly, doctor shopping – even pleading with the pharmacists (doesn’t work). It ruined my marriage. Yet even after all of these negative things, I still have strong cravings for it. Of course I have to use many 10mgs to get even close to the effect I once felt. There have been many times where I’d drink, take Ambien, only to wake up to find half the bottle of pills empty. I fell down the stairs and broke my ankle. The only thing worse than the idea of how much you’re ruining your liver and your life by drinking and taking mountains of Ambien – is Ambien withdrawal. THE worst feeling ever. Headaches, shocking electric pulse pains when you close your eyes, panic attacks, inability to sleep for days, horrific nightmares, feel sick, feel like you’re going to die, etc. So yes, coming off Ambien cold turkey is definitely not a good idea if you can prevent it. I love Ambien and the feeling it gives me, but I know it’s also a very dangerous drug and my heart goes out to everyone who has lost someone because of it. Thanks for reading …

Withdrawal & Side Effects

Anonymous Visitor — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 06:07:43 +0000

AMBIEN WITHDRAWAL HAS TO BE UNDER A DOCTORS SUPERVISION!
I took Ambien for several months and was up to 5-6 10mg pills each night! In order to support my addiction I started doctor shopping. Well, eventually I did run out with no where to turn so felt that I would be O.K. Boy was I wrong!
The first night I slept for a couple of hours but had vivid nightmares. I guess I still had a little Ambien in my system.
Starting the second night I did not sleep at all! I decided to stay awake, make it through the next day and SHOULD be tired the next evening.
Well, I did not sleep that next evening and started having severe panic attacks! I think sleep deprovation was totally in effect.
I took two Tylenol PM thinking that it would get me to sleep but man was I wrong! It had a totally reverse effect so now was going crazy! I ended up having a friend drive me to the hospital the next evening after the panic attacks became unbearable as well as on day three with no sleep. I felt like I was clostorphoebic and could not breath!.
In the emergency room I told the truth about my Ambien habit! By this time it was around 2AM. The doctor came in and gave me orally 1mg of Ativan and sent me home. I thought I would be o.k. but it did not even put a dent in my needed sleep and at this point was about to go crazy again! I ended up in a different hospital and given Ativan via intravenously which did help vs the oral dose the first time at the ER.
From there I did go to a Detox facility for one week and was given Tranzene and Flexeril for one week while there. If It was not for the second hospital and the Detox I think that I would have commited suicide!
PLEASE! Anyone out there that is taking Ambien each night my guess is that you are probably up to atleast 2-3 pills a night by now. If so, please get help and DO NOT RUN OUT OF THE MEDICATION AND TRY TO FACE WITHDRAWAL ON YOUR OWN! Trust me on this and get help! You will not be able to wean yourself off of this medication as your habit will say “go ahead and take 3 tonight” and you will go insane!
Just my thoughts and experience.
I am now 1 year Ambien free and take a mild prescription (restoril) that does not have the euphoric side effects or memory loss AND, I only take one a night and have been for the past 8 months. You take it and just get sleepy which is how a sleep aid should work.
Ambien is an evil medication!

Ambien Withdrawal

Anonymous Visitor — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:49:22 +0000

It’s 9:38 PM and this will be my second night with no ambien. Last night was pure hell. My restless legs were killing me and I could not sleep to save my life. I’m so scared for tonight. I’ve been using 10-20 mg a night for two years often with a glass of wine. How many nights will I go through this to get this out of my body.. I could relate to all your stories.. Scares me..

Clonazepam Withdrawal

Anonymous Visitor — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:04:56 +0000

I have been withdrawing from Clonazepam (2-4mg) for 8 days after 3 months. During that time I also have been taking 20-40mg of ambien at night. In the last 8 days just taking the ambien has made my withdrawl during the day absolutely unbearable. I want to sleep but I am afraid because my blood pressure has subsequently gone through the roof (170/105/heartbeat 96). Am I going to survive. Need help and advice. Thanks.

-Adam

Ambien Withdrawal

Anonymous AmbienOverdose.org Reader — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:15:17 +0000

I have been taking ambien for a year now and was advised by psych. to quit cold turkey last night, which I did. I have complained about not remembering what I do in the evenings for quite some time and that I had been accused of several things that I have no recall of. All specialist would just look at me. It felt as if they did not believe me because also had ECT a year ago. To finally see an explanation of the terror I have felt is going to be a life saver.